| Sunday 20 September 2026 | 16:00 |
| Friday 25 September 2026 | 19:30 |
| Friday 02 October 2026 | 19:30 |
| Bartók, Béla (1881-1945) | Duke Bluebeard's Castle | Libretto by Béla Balázs |
| Stravinsky, Igor (1882-1971) | Oedipus Rex | Libretto by Jean Cocteau, based on Sophocles' Oedipus Rex |
| Welsh National Opera | ||
| Lidiya Yankovskaya | Conductor | |
| Joe Hill-Gibbins | Director | |
| Milla Clarke | Set Designer, Costume Designer | |
| Welsh National Opera Orchestra | ||
Duke Bluebeard's Castle | ||
| Nathan Berg | Bass-baritone | Bluebeard |
| Christine Rice | Mezzo-soprano | Judith |
Oedipus Rex | ||
| Christine Rice | Mezzo-soprano | Jocasta |
| Peter Hoare | Tenor | Oedipus |
| Nathan Berg | Bass-baritone | Tiresias |
In this powerful double bill, two extraordinary works of the 20th century are brought together in a shared world of ritual, mystery and psychological intensity.
In Bluebeard’s Castle, Judith leaves everything behind to be with the enigmatic Duke Bluebeard. She soon discovers his home is filled with locked doors and as she demands each one be opened, she uncovers not only the secrets of his past, but something far more unsettling. As darkness gathers, love and fear become impossible to separate.
In the second half, the same stark setting becomes the ancient city of Thebes for Oedipus Rex. A plague grips the land, and its king is determined to uncover the truth behind it. As his search intensifies, he is forced to confront a destiny he cannot escape. What begins as a quest for answers, becomes a devastating revelation.
Gothic, atmospheric and visually striking, this unified staging draws powerful connections between two timeless myths.
Ticket sale opens on 22 May
Reviews of Duke Bluebeard's Castle, Op.11 directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins
